Utility watchdog warns of rising water rates as regulators consider requests in Illinois

Capitol City News ^ | July 7th 2026 | Maggie Dougherty

[Nevernikki]

Rate hike filings come as the state’s major water utilities seek merger. CHICAGO — Customers across Illinois could be facing higher water and sewage bills as the state’s largest private water utilities seek rate increases and permission to merge.

Illinois American Water, the state’s largest private water utility, is seeking a $142 million rate increase, which would raise typical water costs for its 357,000 residential customers by around $14 per month. Typical wastewater customers would see an additional increase of around $28 per month.

Aqua Illinois, the second-largest private water utility serving over 90,000 customers in the state, has asked regulators to approve a $26.5 million rate increase, which would raise average combined water treatment and supply bills by about $23 per month.

But as the Illinois Commerce Commission weighs those rate cases, it is also evaluating a proposed merger between the two water utilities’ parent companies. The Citizens Utility Board, a watchdog group, is calling on the ICC to reject the merger.

The consumer advocate group warns that approval of the merger between Illinois American’s parent company, American Water, and Aqua’s parent company, Essential Utilities, would allow unprecedented market consolidation.

“Illinois American and Aqua have a long history of consumer complaints about escalating bills and poor service, and our expert testimony shows that there is no reason to believe that the merger will fix these problems,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said in a statement.

After Illinois American purchased Prairie Path Water Company last month, which formerly provided water to customers in 15 counties in north and central Illinois, CUB estimates that approving the merger of Illinois American and Aqua Illinois’ parent companies would mean that over 99.99% of regulated water and wastewater utility customers in the state would be served by American Water and its affiliates.

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TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: illinoiswater

[Nevernikki]

Of Course this Illinois American Water Company have BOUGHT OFF CONGRESSMAN MIKE BOST DONATING 16,000 so far along with my state rep REPUBLICAN State Rep MIKE COFFEY and Patrick Windhorst. Its NEVER about people who pay the BILLS ITS ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY and selling out we the people.